JEALOUSY A NEGATIVE EMOTION OF THE FLESH
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“Stand fast therefore in the liberty
by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of
bondage. Now the works of the flesh are
evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery,
hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies.”—Galatians 5:1, 19, 20
Typically, when jealousy is
thought of, we think that someone wants what someone else has. However, jealousy has a much deeper emotional
meaning. Jealousy has a combination of negative
thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear and anxiety attached to it. The deeper feelings of jealousy provide housing
for anger, resentment, inadequacy, disgust and helplessness. Cultural beliefs and values can play a role
in the feeling of jealousy.
Jealousy can be the cause of
murder, as in the case of Cain killing his brother Able, because he was envious
of the offering that Able had brought to the Lord. I have seen people being jealousy in church
services when someone gave a larger offering than someone else. Trying to justify themselves in their own
eyes, the person giving the smaller offering talked negatively about the amount
of the offering to their friends and anyone else who would listen. Jealousy
tries to justify its negative behavior and destroy other people.
Jealousy tries to shut down the prophetic voice. Jezebel did not like what the prophets of the Lord were saying and had them
killed; however, God’s voice will never be stilled and He always reserves a remnant
that will speak for Him.
We should guard our hearts
against jealousy and every negative
emotion of the flesh. Our flesh wants
what it wants when it wants it. However,
as a believer, we our filled with the Holy Spirit that lives in us and by that
Spirit we are able to live the Jesus
life. We are able to demonstrate to the
world that God is love and that His love is in us, “Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor
boils over with jealousy; is not
boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not
conceited—arrogant and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly), and
does not act unbecomingly. Love [God’s
love in us] does not insist on its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is
not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it—pays
no attention to a suffered wrong. It
does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and
truth prevail. Love bears up under
anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every
person, its hopes are fadeless under al circumstances and it endures everything
[without weakening]. Love never fails—never
fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Today search your heart for any
areas where jealousy is trying to rear its ugly head and ask the Lord for His
forgiveness and help. He is an ever
present help for whatever we have need of.
Prayer—Father I thank You that Your love in me never boils over with
jealousy and with your help I will demonstrate to the world what true love is,
in Jesus Name. Amen.
